Drying-machine.



J. H. RYAN 6a J. F. OTOOLB..

- DBYING MACHINE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED AUG.15.1908.

91 3,7741. Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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J. H. RYAN & J. I'. OTOOLE.

DRYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION HLBD AUG. 15.1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

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JOSEPH H. RYAN AND JOHN F. OTOOLE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Darme-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed August 15, 1908. Serial No. 448,723.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH H. .RYAN and JOHN F. OTOOLE, citizens of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying-Machines, of which lthe following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in drying machines, and is more particularly designed and adaptable to the drying of sand and similar materials by subjecting the same to a direct contact with a flame, or from radiated heat.

The fundamental principle involved in our invention, and which we intend using in the manner hereinafter more specifically set forth, consists in the construction shown in the drawin s, whereby the sand, or other material to e treated, is passed through the machine by gravity, but so retarded, and distributed, that it will receive the full benefit of the heat or flame whilepassing down through the device, and as it emerges from the exit` end of the machine will be thoroughly dried ready for whatever use it .may be intended.

Another object of our invention is the providing of a machine that will be simple in construction, and ractically inexpensive for maintenance, invo ving no complicated parts liable to get out of order, and diflicult to re lace.

n the accompanying drawings in two sheets, Figure 1 is an elevation in section of the assembled machine. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a plan view of one of the flue pans. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a cored out flue pan which may be adapted for hot water circulation. Fig. 4 shows a means for adapting electricity to heat the flue pans, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a perforated distributing cap.

Throughout the different views shown in the drawings the numeral 1 designates a suitable shell or casing preferably built in sections to afford elasticity, and a means for increasing or diminishing the height and capacity of the machine. This casing can be constructed of metal, or else of some refractory material not affected by heat, but n the event of metal being utilized, an asbestos lining 2, as shown, will be advantageous, but not absolutely essential.

The upper end of the machine is provided with an admission port or hopper arrangement 3, controlled, if necessary, by a trap door or regulator 4; here shown as being operated by hand. Located adjacent to the hopper is a draft stack 5.

Arranged inside the casing 1, in communication with the lire-box 6, are a plurality of perforated flue pans 7, of a checkered formation, which occupy the entire spacebetween the surrounding walls. These pans are loosely, and removably, laid one above the other, the bottom pan resting on a shelf, or other suitable support S, the remaining pans in the series being simply stacked on top of each other. On the bottom side of each pan are formed lugs or' feet 9, preferably one at each corner if the pans are constructed in a square configuration. This allows for all the pans in the series being elevated above the preceding one, and thus provides a space of predetermined height between each pan. The construction of these pan members is preferably as shown, reference being had more particularly to Fig. 2. Each an is provided with a plurality of funnel s raped pockets, or flue openings 10, of any required depth and capacity, the walls of each pocket being inclined, more or less, toward the center, the upper side being in actual practice about twice the area of the lower portion. The diilerent sizes and proportion of the openings, likewise the degree of pitch given the walls of these pockets, will be determined by usage. The series of ockets at either two right angled sides of t e pan are constructed with a greater area in their upper portions l1 than those in the remaining compartments, in order that, by reversing each alternate pan, when positioned on top of each other in the casing, the points 12 of the even numbered pans, t'. c., two, four, siX, etc., will come directly in the center of the lower portions 13 of the flue openings directly on top, or the uneven numbers, one, three, five, etc., commencing with the topmost pan.

The lower portion 13 of all the openings 10 in each pan are of uniform size, and the same distance from center to center, but they decrease in area as they approach the bottom of the machine. This provides a means for retarding the heat in its upward progress through the machine, and likewise serves to retard the downward flow of the material passing through the pans.

By making the lower openings 13 in the bottom pans somewhat smaller in area than lll) those in the upper pans the walls of each pocket Will-incline at a less angle or pitch, with the consequent result that the material being treated will have a tendency to iiow slower at that point, which will be nearest the rire, and'naturally the hottest part of the the machine.

When the sand, or other material to be dried, is admitted into the machine through the hopper 3, it falls on a perforated pyramid shaped cap 14, positioned above the pans, which acts to distribute the material as evenly as possible over the surface of the top pan of the series. rPhe perforations in said member 14; are large enough to permit the material to easily drop through onto the iirst pan, as it is intended to feed the material inA a gradual even manner, and thus `avoid any clogging at the starting point.

As the material continues to fall by gravity, and iilter through the iirst pan, it will strike against the dividing points 12 of the pan directly underneath, and the stream of material in its doiifnward movement will be scattered at each succeeding pan throughout the entire series, until it iinally reaches the last pan, and is emitted onto an inclined chute 15, and from that point falls on a similar chute, or spout 16, where it passes out of the machine. The material in descending by gravity through the series of pans meets the heat or iiame passing upward, and owing to the retarding arrangement of the iiue pans, heretofore described, whichprevents the material from passing downward too rapidly, and likewise the heat from passing upward in the same manner, said material becomes thoroughly dried before being emitted out of the machine.

The construction and arrangement of our drying machine is such that the same can be set up, or taken apart, in a comparatively short time, and will therefore be of advantage in transporting from one placev to another, or for the purpose of adding to, or subtracting from, the number of pans; thus increasing or diminishing the capacity of our device. This construction is a matter of convenience only, as the machine may be built intact for permanent use.

In the event of it being necessary, or economically advisable, to substitute electricity, steam, or hot water, as the heating medium, the pans may be cored out, and connected in such a manner as to permit a circulation of the heat producing means throughout the entire series of pans. This cored out feature is shown in Fig. 3, each pan being provided with an inlet oriiice 17, and outlet 18, and in Fig. 4 the pan is shown connected to an electric supply.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. 1n a gravity drying machine, a series of iiue pans, each pan having a plurality of par- Wtitions spaced apart and extending parallel to one another, and a second series of partitions lying parallel to one another but at an angle to and intersecting the partitions ofthe rst mentioned series, the sides of each partition diverging from the top to the bottom and the said intersecting partitions forming openings, the area of each opening being greater at the top than at the bottom, the said pans being supported one above the other, and having the points of intersection of the partitions of each succeeding pan under the openings of the pan immediately above.

2. 1n a gravity drying machine, a series of Aline pans, each pan having aplurality oi partitions spaced apart and extending parallel to one another, and a second series of partitions parallel to one another but at an angle to and intersecting the partitions of the 'first mentioned series, the sides of each partition diverging from the top to the bottom and the said intersecting partitions forming openings, the area of each opening being greater at the top than at the bottom, the said pans being supported one above the other, and having the points of intersection of the partitions of each succeeding pan under the o enings of the pan immediately above, the ue openings of the several pans being decreased in area as they approach the bottom of the machine.

3. 1n a gravity drying machine, a series of flue pans, each pan having a plurality of partitions spaced apart and'eXtending parallel to one another, and a second series of partitions lying parallel to one another but at an angle to the partition of the Jiirst mentioned series, the sides of each ypartition diverging from the top to the bottom, and the said intersecting partitions forming openings, the area of each opening being greater at the top than at the bottom, and means for supporting the pans one above the other.

4. 1n a gravity drying machine, a series of i'lue pans, each having a plurality of partitions spaced apart and extending parallel to one another, and a second series of partitions lying parallel to one another but at an angle to the partitions of the iirst mentioned series, the sides of each partition diverging from the top to the bottom and the said intersecting partitions forming openings, the area of each opening being greater at the top than at the bottom, means for supportingl the pans one above the other, and means for supplying a heating medium to the assembled pans.

5. In a gravity drying machine, a series of flue pans, each pan having a plurality of partitions spaced apart and extending parallel to one another, and a second series of partitions lying parallel to one another but at an angle to the partitions of the irst mentioned series, the sides of each partition diverging from the top to the bottom and the said intersecting partltions forming openings, the area of each opening being greater at the top than at the bottom, means for supporting the pans one above the other, means for supplying a heating medium at the bottom ol' the pans, and means above the pans for eX- hausting the heating medium.

6. In a gravity drying machine, a series of flue pans, each pan having a plurality of partitions spaced apart and extending parallel to one another, and a second series of partitions parallel to one another but at an angle to and intersecting the partitions of the first mentioned series, the sides of each partition diverging from the top to the bottom and the said intersecting artitions Jforming openings, the area of eac i opening being greater at the top than at the bottom.

the said pans being supported one above the other, and having the oints of intersection of the partitions of eac i succeeding pan under the openings of the pan immediately above, the iiue openings of the several pans being decreased in area as they approach the bottom ot' the machine, and means stationed above the ilues for distributing material over the top pan ofthe series.

In testimony whereof We aiiix our signatures in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOSEPH H. RYAN. JOHN F. OTOOLE.

Titnessesz BEATRICE FITZGERALD, H. W. STEVENsoN. 

